20191084 Ver 1_17BP.5.R.88 Arch NoSitesPresent_20190814

Project Tracking No.:
17-11-0001
NO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
oo ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES c .
q PRESENT FORM'
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p °: This form onl ertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this ro ect. It is not
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valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the4.
Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project No: na County: Warren
WBS No: 17BP.5.R.88 Document: MCC
F.A. No: na
Federal Permit Required?
Funding: ® State ❑ Federal
® Yes ❑ No Permit Type: NWP
Project Description:
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division 5 intends to replace Bridge No.
135 on SR 1609, Powell Mills Road, over Fishing Creek southwest of Liberia. Based on preliminary
designs that were made available at the time of the request for archaeological review, an area of potential
effects (APE), for the purposes of that review, was established that encompassed all proposed right-of-
way (ROW) for the bridge replacement project. This APE is estimated at roughly 1 acre (slightly over .4
hectare).
SUMMARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Archaeology Group reviewed the subject
project and determined:
® There are no National Register listed or eligible ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
present within the project's area of potential effects. (Attach any notes or documents
as needed)
® No subsurface archaeological investigations were required for this project.
❑ Subsurface investigations did not reveal the presence of any archaeological resources.
❑ Subsurface investigations did not reveal the presence of any archaeological resources
considered eligible for the National Register.
❑ All identified archaeological sites located within the APE have been considered and all
compliance for archaeological resources with Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act and GS 121-12(a) has been completed for this project.
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
As noted in the Archaeological Survey Required form (dated November 28, 2017), no Known
archaeological resources have been recorded in the vicinity of the proposed bridge replacement project,
but historic mapping of the area (the 1924 John E. Buck Map of Warren County) depicts Powell's Mill
and Store along the road where it crosses Fishing Creek to the south of Spring Grove Church. Aerial
photographs and LIDAR imagery of the project vicinity appeared to depict mill elements outside the
proposed APE to the west of the project but given the proximity of those areas and the suggestion in the
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
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Project Tracking No.:
17-11-0001
historic mapping of a complex of structures, it was determined that an archaeological reconnaissance
would be required for the project.
On October 19, 2018, NCDOT archaeologists, Shane Petersen and Brian Overton conducted a pedestrian
survey of the project area including areas associated with the suspected location of Powell's Mill and
Store. This pedestrian survey included a visual inspection of the entire proposed APE and a broader
reconnaissance to identify features of the documented mill complex. As suggested by topographical and
soil type mapping for the archaeological screening, landforms within the APE are dominated by
frequently flooded (wet) soils framed by steeply sloped areas. None of the areas within the APE was
considered suited to subsurface testing.
Farther to the west, the foundations of the mill house were observed along with some pieces of mill
machinery (a turbine shaft?). Remnants of the breached mill dam were observed in Fishing Creek as can
be seen in the LIDAR imagery of the area. Adjacent the mill foundation, a laid -stone retaining wall can
be seen along the banks of Fishing Creek on the north side. Remnants of a road trace were observed
running parallel to Fishing Creek from SR 1609 past the mill foundation remnants. To the north of this
road trace, opposite the mill house foundation, the ridge slope appeared to exhibit some modification that
may indicate additional space for structures. The location of the mill store was not confirmed during the
reconnaissance survey. Based on the extant mill features observed, a tentative boundary for Powell's Mill
was established, and the site was recorded as 31WR293**. No further investigations of the mill were
undertaken once it was established that the site does not extend into the current APE. No assessment of
the National Register Eligibility, nor recommendations regarding archaeological significance is offered
for the site in the current effort.
The project should be considered to be compliant with Section 106 of the national Historic Preservation
Act and North Carolina General Statute 121-12(a). No further archaeological investigations are required
for the project as it is currently proposed. Should the project footprint expand beyond the currently
delineated APE, further archaeological review, and likely further investigations, will be necessary. In the
unlikely event that archaeological deposits are encountered during the bridge replacement project, all
earth -disturbing activities should cease in the associated locations and this office should be contacted
immediately.
SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: ® Map(s) ❑ Previous Survey Info
Signed:
A4---
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
® Photos ❑Correspondence
October 25, 2018
Date
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
2 of 6

Project Tracking No.:
17-11-0001
Aerial photograph of the proposed APE (orange lines) along with preliminary designs for the bridge
replacement project; note the location of the mill structure foundations (green lines) and the preliminary
site boundary for 3 1 VVR293 * * (pink lines).
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
3 of 6

Project Tracking No.:
17-11-0001
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LIDAR imagery of the project area including the APE for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 135
(orange lines) and the locations of mill elements associated with Powell's Mill, site 31WR293**.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
4 of 6

Project Tracking No.:
17-11-0001
Photograph of Bridge No. 135 and SR 1609 facing south through the current APE.
Photograph of Bridge No. 135 and SR 1609 facing north through the current APE.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
5 of 6

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